Following the success of our first Diaspora Film Festival last spring (April 2025), which focused on the East Asian diaspora, the Diaspora Film Festival returns with a new theme: Latin American Diaspora.

We invite young filmmakers to showcase their work at this year’s festival. Selected films will be screened at a live event hosted at International House at the University of Chicago on May 8, 2026, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with the filmmakers. This festival will celebrate the creativity and voices of student artists exploring themes of identity, migration, and cultural heritage.

The Diaspora Film Festival is hosted by Fire Escape Films and International House at the University of Chicago.

AWARDS & PRIZES:

Films part of the festival's Official Selection will be screened on May 8, 2026, at an event hosted by International House (1414 East 59th Street, Chicago, IL 60637).

• Admission to the screening will be free, and a small reception will follow the screening.
• Filmmakers will be invited to attend in person, participate in a panel discussion, and engage in a Q&A with the audience. Please note that travel expenses will not be covered.

RULES & TERMS:

• All genres/forms accepted. Seeking all types of narrative, documentary, experimental and/or art houses. Both fiction and non-fiction films are welcome.
• The festival reserves the right to update its terms and conditions at any time.
• By submitting, filmmakers grant the festival permission to screen their film before a live audience and to use clips and stills for promotional purposes on social media, based on materials provided in the press kit.
• Films selected for screening (Official Selection) will be notified via email by the notification date.
• Films must be primarily created by human filmmakers. Works that are substantially generated by AI (including scripts, visuals, or performances) are not eligible for submission.

Submission eligibility:

• Open to filmmakers (directors and/or producers) worldwide who are under 30 years of age.
• Films must have a runtime of 20 minutes or less.
• Submissions must align with the festival theme, "Latin American Diaspora." This includes films created by filmmakers (director, writer, and/or producer) of Latin American descent and/or films that explore themes of immigration, diaspora, cross-cultural experience, or Latin American culture.
• All submissions must have been completed after January 1, 2020.
• There are no restrictions on premiere status.
• Filmmakers may submit multiple entries, provided that each film is submitted with a separate entry form and fee.
• Films must be in English or include English subtitles.

Submission Guidelines:

• A working online link to the film (via FilmFreeway, Vimeo, and/or YouTube), including any required passwords, must be provided at the time of submission along with the entry fee. Please note that the link must remain active and passwords cannot be changed through May 2026.
• Films should be submitted in Full HD or 4K resolution.

Selection Criteria:

The films will be judged by a committee of UChicago Faculty, Graduate Students in the Cinema and Media Studies department, and non-UChicago affiliated reviewers. The films will be evaluated based on:

• Artistic Expression.
• Adherence to theme.
• Technical Execution.

With the submission of this film, I agree to the following:

• I am authorized to submit this film/project to the DFF for consideration.
• I have obtained all necessary rights and clearances.
• While every precaution will be taken to safeguard all materials submitted, I release the DFF from all responsibility for loss of or damage to submitted materials.
• I have read, understand, and agree to all the requirements as stated above.